Showcase with display racks therein



Feb, 15, 1949. F. A. sAUNDERs SHOWCASE WITH DISPLAY RACK THEREIN Filed July 14, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet l INI/NTOR.

Feb. 15, 1949.

Filed July 14, 1945 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. lf. Saunders A TTDRNEY Patented Feb. 15, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SHOWCASE WITH DISPLAY RACKS THEREIN Ferdinand A.A Saunders, Nedrow, N. Y. Application July 14, 1945, Serial No. 605,091

(Cl. S12-128) 11 Claims.

a stock or stocks of ties corres-ponding to a sample or samples selected by` a customer may readily be made accessible to the customer and be restored when desired, the apparatus including a combined storage and showcase, preferably of sales counter height, a shelf or shelves within the case fordisplay of samples,'and removable stands or racks for holding supplies of ties for display and sale and arranged within the case for ready removal of any selected stand or stands and placement thereof upon the top of the case', said removable stands or racks being so arranged in the case relatively to the shelf or shelves as to display at least one tie on each stand to a person standing in front of the case.

A further object of theinvention is to provide an improved apparatus especially adapted for use in selling neckties and comprising a combned show and storage case and sales counter for enclosing and displaying sample ties and also supplies of ties corresponding to the samples, and a set of display racks for holding the supplies of ties, said racks.Y being removably seated side by side in the case in a row extending longitudinally of the combined case and sales counter and being adapted to be seated upon the counter at will.

A further object of the invention is to provide a showcase having a sales counter top, a shelf within the case extending longitudinally of the case for display of a row of sample articles, a row of separate article-storage stands removably housed within the casing and placeable at will upon said counter top, and means in the case to align said row of stands along said shelf for registry` of articles stored on said stands with sample articles displayed on the shelf.

A further object ofthe invention is to provide a display apparatus affording a storage and showcase having a sales counter top and two stepped sample display shelves extending lQlgitudinally of said oase, and a longitudinal row of individually removable stands or racks housed with the case and each adapted to support a row or rows of articles below the uppermost shelf with the rows of articles extending fore and aft of the case and the foremost article of each row displayed between the twoshelves.

Other objects and advantages of the invention Y l will appear from the following description of the preferred embodiment of the invention shown in the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an apparatus embodying the invention, showing two of the removable standsl or racks removed from within the case and standing upon the top or sales counter portionof the case, and also showing sample neckties on the shelves and stocks of neckties hanging on the stands;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of one of the removable stands or racks;

' Figure 3 is a front elevation of one of the stands or racks;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary perspective view on an enlarged scale of one of the stands or racks; Figure 5 is a sectional view of the apparatus taken on the line 5 5 of Figure 6; and

Figure 6 is a fragmentary front elevation of the apparatus.

The preferred embodiment of the invention illustrated by the drawings now will be described, it being understood that'changes within the scope of the invention may be made without departing from the invention claimedin the appended claims..

The combined show and storage case has a horin zontal top wall lil, a horizontal bottom wall Il, two vertical end walls I2, and a front wall i3, the rear of the case being closed by a pair of overlapping sliding doors I4 of the kind commonlyemployed for show cases, although hinged doors or other movable closure means may be provided for this purpose, or the rear of the case may be left V' permanently open if desired. Preferably there is fixed to the under side of the bottom wall il the usual shallow base l5 commonly vprovided in show cases and set back as usual from the front and end walls to provide clearance for the toe and instep portions of the feet of persons standing close to the case. The length of the case preferably is greater than its height and its fore and aft depth, the height of the case preferably being such that its top wall I0 conveniently may serve as-a sales counter. A suitable trimming l may extend along the front and ends of the case adjacent the bottom of the case. The particular features of the apparatus characterizing the present .invention will now be described.

` tion Ib, the section l 0b being formed of plate glass or other suitable transparent material and theY section I 0a preferably being formed of two cemented or.otherwise fixedy 'united plies of wood or other suitable opaque material are ranged, as shown in Figure 5, to provide a narrow ledge supporting the rear edge of the section IIlb.

The front wall I3 comprises a lower opaque section |30; disposed in a vertical plane and preferably formed of two cemented or otherwise joined plies of wood or other suitable opaque material, and an upper transparent section I3b formed of plate glass or other suitable transparent material and disposed in a slightly Vupwardly and rearwardly inclined plane and extending from the upper edge of the outer ply of section I3a to the under face of the section IIlb of the top wall at or closely adjacent the front edge of the latter. The outer ply of wall section I 3a preferably extends slightly higher than the inner ply.

The end walls I2 extend from the top wall to the bottom wall and from the rear face of the case to the front wall. Preferably, and as shown, each end wall comprises a substantially L-shaped section I 2a formed of wood or other suitable opaque material. The upper end edge of the narrower portion of each such end wall section I2a extends from the rear face of the case to the front edge of the section Ilia of the top wall, and the wider lower portion of each such end wall section I 2a extends to the section I3a of the front wall. The upper edges of the wider lower portions of the end wall sections I2a are inclined slightly upward and rearward and have fixed thereon the ends of a similarly inclined wooden or other suitable opaque shelf board I1 covered by a plywood or other suitable opaque plate I'Ia which may be merely seated on board II. The shelf II-I'Ia thus formed is seated along its front edge upon the top edge of the inner ply of front wall section I 3a and extends rearward to the vertical front edges of the narrower upper portions of end Wall sections IZa. Plate glass or other suitable transparent sections I2b of the end walls' close the spaces at the ends of the case from the top wall to the shelf II-I'Ia and from the front wall to the forward edges of the narrower upper portions of the L-shaped wall sections I2a.

Adjacent the top of the case a slightly upwardly and rearwardlyinclined wooden or other suitable opaque shelf board I8 is xed to the end wall sections I2a with the front portion of this board overlapping and spaced about 12 to 18 inches above the rear portion of shelf I'I-IIa, the top of board I8 being covered by two endwisely abutted and individually removable plywood or other suitable opaque plates IBa each extending one-half the length of board I8. Each plate I8a is removable for convenient placing of ties thereon when trimming or loading the showcase. The two shelves are preferably about to 18 inches wide from front to rear, and the narrow upper portions of end wall sections I2a. are preferably provided with forward projections I2c to support the shelf board I8 where it overhangs shelf II-IIa. Two wooden or other suitable opaque strips I8 and 2B, secured edge to edge with the lower one thereof secured to the front edge of shelf board I8, extend entirely across the case with the upper strip I9 providing a narrow upstanding ledge opposed to the front edges of the plates I8a and the lower strip 2G providing a narrow pendent hood or shield for a series of straight fluorescent electric lamps 2| which are arranged end to end and mounted in suitable lamp termii nal devices 22 anchored to shelf board I8 immedegrees.

A the top and bottom walls of the case.

diately behind said hood 20. A narrow wooden or other suitable opaque strip 23 is secured to the front edge of the lower ply of top wall section Illa and to end wall sections I2a and depends slightly below wall section Illa to provide a hood or shield for a series of long and straight fluorescent electric lamps 24 arranged end to end immediately behind said shield and mounted in terminal devices 25 anchored to wall section Illa below the latter.

Extending from end to end of the case within and longitudinally of the case, and secured to the bottom and end walls of the case, is a wooden or other suitable bar 26 of low height underlying the rear portion of shelf I'l--Ila and resting on bottom wall II. Extending rearward from this bar substantially to the doors Ill are parallel and closely and uniformly spaced Wooden or other suitable partitions 21 which are thin and of low height and are secured to said bar and to the bottom wall II. The spacing between the partitions is preferably about 4 to 6 inches, or about twice the width of an average necktie. The bar 25 and partitions 2l form a row'of stalls or guideways open at their rear ends and closed at their front ends and each adapted to closely and slidably receive and house the base of one of a row of small and self-sustaining display and storage stands or racks 28. Preferably there extends across the front end of each stall or guideway, a short distance above the wall II and immediately in rear of bar 2t, a wooden or other suitable cross-bar 29 adapted for engagement over the ends of the base elements of stands 28, as shown in Figure 5, to prevent accidental fore and aft toppling of the stands. 4Cross-bars 29 are secured to bar 26 and partitions 21.

The several parts of the above described case are fixedly secured in any suitable known manu ner to provide a rigid case structure. The fore and aft depth of the case at the bottom wall II is preferably about 24 inches and at the top wall Ill is preferably about 11 inches. The height of the case is preferably about 40 inches. The case may have any desired length. The two shelves are preferably parallel as shown and inclined as shown for better visibility of articles displayed upon the shelves. The angle of inclination is small, preferably about l5 degrees to the horizontal, to reduce the liability of ties or other articles sliding down the sloping shelves. The transparent front wall section I3b is inclined to permit better Visibility of ties enclosed in the case,` the angle of inclination to the vertical preferably being small, or about 15 'Ihe front wall section I3a is preferably about 14 inches high. The rear edge of the upper shelf is preferably about 4% inches below the top wall I0 and about 41/2 inches forward of the doors I4.

The necktie display and storage stands 28 have a maximum height less than the distance between Each stand comprises a flat oblong base, a vertical standard or post held to one end of the base, a horizontal bar extending from the standard adjacent the upper end of the latter in the direction of length of the base, and tie-supporting horizontal crossbars corresponding in length with the width of the base and carried by said horizontal bar with their ends disposed in the vertical planes of the longitudinal side edges of the base. The width of the base and length of the cross-bars corresponds to or is Very slightly less than the stall or portion of the cross-bar.

guidewaywidth, being about twice the maximum width of an average necktie or about 4- inches.'

The'length of the base corresponds with or is slightly less than the rstall or guideway length, or about inches. The horizontal bar supporting the cross-bars is of such length that it does not extend farther from the post than does the post base, and preferably is of such length that it reaches only to the vertical plane of the vfront edges of the narrow portions of end wall sections |2a of the case, as shown. The cross-bars of each stand and their supporting bar are all located at a 'distance above the base slightly less than the distance from bottom wall Il of the case to the upper shelf i3, these bars preferably having their upper edges approximately level with the lower edge of lamp shield 2D, as shown. Each crossbar is adapted to sustain at least two neckties with one necktie hung thereover, as shown, at each side of the bar which directly sustains the cross-bars. In the construction shown, each stand has fourl cross-bars for sustaining astock of at least 8 necktes with two ties hung on each cross-bar, but the shown construction is such that a plurality of superimposed ties may be hung on each arm of each of the cross-bars.

The display and storage stands 28 above generally described may be of any suitable specific construction. Preferably each such stand is constructed as shown and as will now be briey described.

The stand' base comprises a flat oblong Wooden or other suitable bar'or block Sil having its bottom face rounded or beveled at 35a adjacent one end to facilitate insertion of the base in one ofthe stalls or guideways and engagement of this, end or toe of the base under the bar 29 in said stall or guideway. A vertical and hollow metal post 3l is secured to the other end of the base, preferably by a bolt 32 and a nut 33. The bolt passes through the base, a metal junction block 34 which is interposed between the lower end of the post and the base, and a plug 35 which is xedly held in the lower end of the post as by screws 36. Junction block 34 may be additionally held to theV base by a screw 3l. The upper end of the hollow post 3i preferably is closed by a metal plug or cap 38 held to the post by screws orv other fastenings 39.

O-ne end of the bar 4B of the stand is inserted into the post a short distance below cap 38 and into a plug ill which is welded or otherwise secured in the hollow post, and is ixedly anchored to said post and plug. The bar 40, at uniformly spaced intervals along itslength, is provided with four vertical slots which extend half-way down through the bar and are spaced longitudinally of the bar, this spacing being preferably about 2 inches. Each cross-bar 42 is slotted vertically upward half-way therethrough medially of its ends to interlock with bar 40. Bars 40 and 42 preferably are of equal width and thickness, as shown, the width of these bars preferably being about 1% inches. Each cross-bar has the upper half thereof cut away fromts outer ends to points adjacent its middle. At each end of each crossbar a pair of narrow, thin straps or bars 43 are fixed at their lower ends to opposite faces of the cross-bar with their upper ends extending upward beyond the reduced end ofthe cross-bar to the level of the upper edges of bar 4i! and the medial From their upper ends to the upper edge of the adjacent reduced portion of the cross-bar the straps 43 are spaced a short distance longitudinally of bar 40, this spacing preferablyk being about 1/2 inch. The reductions ofthe end portions of the cross bar and the provisionl of theprojections 43 affords a tie receiving notch in each cross-bar at opposite sides of bar 40. These notches preferably are about 1/2 inch deep and 11/4 inches wide to receive the medial portion of' a necktie or the medial portions of a plurality of superimposed ties hung over the cross-bar. The parts 4U, 42, and 43 are preferably formed of thin metal bar stock and welded together. The described arrangement prevents hung ties from slipping laterally off the ends of the cross-bars. t also permits holding a hung tie against sliding in the direction of tie length by inserting in a pair of projections 43 an element held to an adjacent tiemedially of the endsof the tie. Such element may be a sales tag, a paper band extending around the tie, or an ordinary paper clip clipped at one end to the tie and projecting beyond one edge of the tie.

In use of the apparatus, sample ties are folded transversely and laid side by side on the shelves, as shown, with the ties edge to edge and extending fore and aft of the case. The stands 28 are enclosed Within the case side by side, as shown, with the posts adjacent the doors and with the arms and bases 30 of the stands extending toward the front of the case, one stand base being slid into each stall or guideway.' Stocks of ties corresponding tothe displayed samples on the'shelves are hung on the removable stands. Each stand carries on the first two cross-bars thereofl two kinds of ties, one kind at each side of its bar 4U, with the two kinds of stand-carried ties registering with two corresponding sample ties displayed on one of the shelves. The other two cross-bars of the stand carry two similarly arranged kinds of ties corresponding with' two sample ties displayed on the other shelf side by side in registry with the stand carried ties. The

l foremost ties on the stands are also displayed between the two shelves and form a ycurtain which, together with the shelves and the opaque wooden wall portions of the case conceals the stands from View of a customer. Substantially all that is visible to the customer is three rows of folded ties and the front, ends and top of the case when the case is loaded with ties.

When a customer selects a tie or ties appealing to him, hel can indi-cate to a clerk the sample cr samples selected, whereupon the clerk from his station behind the case can then withdraw from the case the stand or stands containing a supply orA supplies of the selected tie or ties and place the stand on top of the lcase thus making a supply of the selected tie or ties available for handling and sale. The stalls or guideways for the stand bases facilitate proper alignment of the stands and samples 4and facilitate quick restoration of removed stands into the case. The lengthof the stand bases preferably corresponds, as shown, substantially with the fore and aft width of the section ma of the top wall of the case upon which Wall section the stands are preferably placed when removed from the case. The space below shelf l'l-lla and forward of bar 2S may be used for stacks ofbioxed ties or other storage purposes..v

I claim:

l. A display apparatus comprising, in combination, a row of independent. and self-sustaining article :storing and displaying stands arranged side by side, and a showcase-.enclosing said ,row

of ystands for individual removal of the stands through the rear of the showcase andin the rear portion Iof which .the stands are removably seated with the row of stands extending longitudinally of the showcase, said showcase having therein and extending longitudinally thereof two stepped and opaque article display shelves, which shelves are made with the lower one thereof located farthest from therear of the showcase and extending -to the front wall of the showcase and with the upper one thereof overhanging the row of stands, said stands each having article suspending means disposed at a level between the shelves and close to the upper shelf with said means located in rear of the vertical plane of the rear edge of the lower shelf, and said showcase including a top wall, two end walls and a front wall, which walls are opaque throughout those parts thereof which extend below the lower shelf and in rear of the vertical plane of the rear edge of said shelf and are transparent throughout the remainder of each such wall.

2. A display apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the showcase is provided with fixed meanstherein for positioning the several stands side by side in closely juxtaposed relation, with which means the several stands are individually releasably engaged.

3. A display apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, wherein the shelves incline slightly upward and rearward toward the rear of the showcase, and each stand has means for holding two rows of articles with the rows extending fore and aft of the oase for exposure of one article of each row to view between the shelves from the front of the case.

4. A display apparatus Icomprising a row of independent and self-sustaining article holding stands, and a showcase having end, top, bottom and front walls enclosing said row of stands for removal individually through the rear of the showcase, said stands being removably seated side by side on the bottom wall of the showcase with the row of stands extending longitudinally of the showcase, said showcase having therein a shelf extend-ing throughout the length of the case with the front edge of said shelf located at the front wall of the case and also having therein a higher shelf which overhangs the stands and extends throughout the length of the case with said higher shelf stepped rearwardly of the case relatively to the lower shelf, -said stands each having article holding means disposed at a level between the two shelves and close to the upper shelf, and the front wall of said showcase being opaque from the lower edge thereof to the lower shelf and being transparent from said lower shelf to the top wall of the case.

5. A display apparatus, as claimed in claim 4, wherein the shelves incline upwardly and rearwardly within the show case and the front wall of the showcase inclines upwardly and rearwardly from the lower shelf to the top of the showcase.

6. A display apparatus, as claimed in claim 4, wherein the show-case is provided with fixed positioning means for the several stands located within the case adjacent the bottom wall of the case, and wherein each stand has a base releasably engaged with the stand positioning means.

7. A display apparatus, as claimed in claim 4, wherein the case has parallel guideways extending fore and aft of the case at the upper face of the bottom wall of the case, one guideway for each stand, each of which guideways is open at its rear end and closed at its front end, and eachl stand has a rectangular base slidable into and out of one of said guideways.

8. A necktie display and storage apparatus comprising, in combination, a row of independent and self-sustaining necktie holding stands, each adapted to hold a supply of neckties for sale, and a combined showcase and sales counter enclosing said row of stands within the rear thereof for individual removal of the stands through the rear of the case, said row of necktie holding stands extending from end to end of the case, and said case having therein two sample necktie display shelves visible from the front of the case and extending from end to end of the case with said shelves arranged relatively to said stands to expose therebetween from the front of the case at least one tie held by each of said stands.

9. A necktie display and storage apparatus, as claimed in claim 8, wherein each stand has a recv tangular base, a column held to said base, a horizontal bar extending from the column, and necktie suspending cross-bars held to said bar; wherein the stands are collectively housed in said show case at the rear of said case with the crossbar carrying bars of the stands extending toward the front of the case; and wherein the upper shelf of the case is stepped rearwardly relatively to the lower shelf and overhangs the stands.

10. A necktie display and storage apparatus, as claimed in claim 8, wherein each stand has a rectangular base, a column xed to said base, a horizontal bar fixed to the column, and necktie suspending cross-bars xed to said bar; wherein the stands are collectively lhoused in the show case at the rear of the case with the cross-bar carrying bars of the stands extending toward the front of the case; wherein the upper shelf of the case is stepped rearwardly relatively to the lower shelf and overhangs the stands; and wherein the case is provided with a row of parallel slideways extending fore and aft of the case for receiving the bases of the stands, said slideways being open at their rear ends and closed at their front ends.

11. A necktie display and storage apparatus, as claimed in claim 8, wherein each stand has a rectangular base, a column fixed to said base, a horizontal bar fixed to the column, and necktie suspending cross-bars fixed to said bar; wherein the stands are collectively housed in the show case at the rear of the case with the cross-bar carrying bars of the stands extending toward the front of the case; wherein the upper shelf of the case is stepped rearwardly relatively to the lower shelf and overhangs the stands; and wherein the case is provided with fore and aft extending slideways to receive the bases of the stands, which slideways are open at their rear ends and are provided with fixed means to engage closely over the stand bases forward of the stand columns.

FERDINAND A. SAUNDERS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,432,330 Gross Oct. 17, 1922 1,763,716 Michaelson June 17, 1930 1,766,632 Halsup June 24, 1930 1,800,863 Johnson Apr. 14, 1931 1,850,417 Sanders Mar. 22, 1932 1,986,077 Spang Jan. l, 1935 

